International Engineering Societies Call on Governments to Support the United Nations "Sustainable Energy for All" Initiative

24 April 2012 - We, the undersigned international engineering societies, with a combined membership of over 750,000, hereby commit our support to achieving Sustainable Energy for All.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon built on the UN General Assembly’s Resolution declaring 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All by establishing a new UN global initiative, “Sustainable Energy for All,” aimed at achieving three interlinked objectives by 2030:

• Ensuring universal access to modern energy services,• Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency,• Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Today, some 20 percent of the world’s population, 1.3 billion people, still live without access to electricity, and more than twice that many lack safe and sustainable methods of heating and cooking.

In drawing attention to these issues and introducing this initiative, the UN Secretary-General said: “Widespread energy poverty condemns billons to darkness, to ill health, to missed opportunities for education and prosperity. That is why I say that energy poverty must end. Development is not possible without energy, and sustainable development is not possible without sustainable energy.”

We fully endorse the Secretary General’s vision and goal of achieving Sustainable Energy for All by 2030 and will strive to help achieve the goals stated above.